Title: Life Saver 4/10
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail: If you want, but it is polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and the Gilmore Girls.
Spoiler: Season 7 of Buffy and mid to late season 1 of Gilmore Girls, so GG timeline is moved a few years.
Rating: 12A/PG-13 tops.
Pairing: Lorelai/Luke eventually plus Buffy canon pairings.
Summery: Set around First Date EP. 7.14 and Get It Done EP. 7.15.
Notes: This was inspired by reading a couple of Buffy-Gilmore Girls crossovers and the fact that Hallmark (in the UK) have started showing GG from the first season.
It should also be noted that although a lot of the dialogue in this story comes from the scripts posted on BuffyWorld some of it is changed or even spoken by different people.
This part is going out unbetad like the last part, I thought I might have found someone to beta it but they have failed to reply to my emails.
'' Thought.
Feedback: If you wish.
Reviews:
From: vaguilera.1 ()
Way awesome never read one quite like this one...tres bien...super awesome I'm your loyal reader my master keep it up and you'll be beating me with a stick to get me away...
A: Ah thanks, I think?
Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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Buffy stood in the doorway watching Lorelai interact with the other potentials, the woman confused her, she had to admit, well most of the time, but over the last week or so, she could see the difference Lorelai had made. Without even meaning too, the woman had become the house's den mother and big sister rolled into one, the morale of the Scoobies, as well as the potentials', had gone up, and more importantly, Buffy had someone she could go to when it all became too much, something she had not had in Giles since being pulled out of heaven. Lorelai would never replace her own mother but she was quickly becoming a close second.
Lorelai spotted Buffy as she sat on the couch with Willow, Rory and Dawn with many of the potentials kneeling or lying on the floor laughing and giggling as Willow related yet another of Xander's more embarrassing moments in high school. "Hey Buffy, did you really throw yourself at Xander when this Amy girl did the love spell on you?" asked the older woman.
Buffy smiled as she walked over and sat on the arm of the couch, "Yeah I walked into the library after Giles and the others had left, I was only wearing a knee length coat," she smirked. "I said it was party time, or something like that, and asked him if he was going to open his present," the room erupted in peels of laughter. "But I bet Willow didn't tell you that she tried seducing him in his own bedroom?" she smiled as all eyes turned to the quickly blushing redhead.
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Lorelai leaned against the wall next to the basin as she watched Anya try to clean a spot on the blouse Buffy hoped to wear on her date, "So what's Principle Wood like?" she asked the Slayer who sat on the edge of the bath.
"Well? Let's see, he's tall and sexy, I think he shaves his head as well... or I'm going out with someone that is suffering from premature balding and he's a snappy dresser," said Buffy.
"I don't think it's really a date. That's what I think," said Anya absently as she scrubbed at the shirt.
"Well, it is unclear. That's why I chose a top that says, you know, I'm comfortable in a stodgy office or a swinging casual setting, or killing you, you know, if you're a demon," said Buffy making Lorelai laugh quietly.
"It also says I sometimes get blood on my shoulder," said Anya looking at the shirt again, "Or it might be pizza," she handed the shirt to Buffy, "I don't think I can fix it."
"Thanks for trying," said Buffy.
"And I wasn't talking about your date anyway. I was talking about this sham date of Xander's. I think it's part of a plan to make me jealous," said Anya.
Buffy shook her head, "Well, it's not working," she said in support of the ex-vengeance demon.
"Are you nuts? Of course it's working. Observe my-my bitter ranting. Hear the shrill edge of hysteria in my voice," said Anya angrily.
"Um, I should really go find something else to wear," said Buffy walking out of the room.
"Fine, go. Leave me here to stew in my impotent rage," Lorelai looked at Anya, "I'm also gonna pee," she nodded towards the door, "So you should probably go too."
Shaking her head Lorelai left the bathroom.
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After Buffy had left on her date, Lorelai sat at the dining room table with Amanda and Dawn, while Kennedy stood just behind Willow as she searched the net on her laptop.
"Nothing? No records or certificates? College transcripts?" asked Dawn in surprise.
"Looks like the only stuff in the system about Principal Robin Wood is super-recent. Like, since he moved to Sunnydale," added Amanda.
Willow sighed, "I've Googled 'til I just can't Google no more. He's not in there."
"Well, that's suspicious," said Lorelai.
Anya stormed into the dining room holding a stack of papers.
Giles followed, "Anya, calm down. They're educational..."
Anya handed the papers to Willow, "What's this?" asked the redhead. She began flipping through the papers. They were crude stick-figure drawings in black and red marker depicting 'Bringer' on one, 'Vampire' on another, and 'The Slayer' on a third. Each one showed a gruesome, bloody mess as the creature depicted was killing someone or something.
"Giles made them for Chao-Ahn, and now she's locked herself in the bathroom. There's other girls upstairs, and they're starting to complain," said Anya.
"Those are flashcards. I-I made them to facilitate her training. Chao-Ahn never had a Watcher. The language problem..." Giles tried to explain.
"You showed her these?" asked Willow shocked.
"I wanted her to understand the seriousness of her situation," Giles pointed out.
"Holy crap!" exclaimed Lorelai as she spotted a particularly grisly drawing of the Turok Han stood over a girl that it had obviously ripped in half, it had a large pool of blood at the bottom.
"Perhaps I'll rethink the approach," conceded Giles.
"I'll go and try to get her out of the bathroom... somehow," said Lorelai getting up and heading for the door.
"While Lorelai is talking to Chao-Ahn, wanna help us get researchy? We're trying to invade Buffy's date's privacy," said Willow.
"Buffy has a date?" exclaimed Giles.
Anya rolled her eyes, "Yes... Didn't you hear? Everybody has a date. Buffy has a date. Willow's been completely making out with this girl..." she gestured at Kennedy.
"Hey!" said Kennedy.
Anya ignored Kennedy, "Xander's out with some hardware-store-whore. It's Date Fest 2003," she said sitting down.
"Actually, Buffy's investigating Principal Wood. It's not a date," said Willow half-heartedly.
"Really," asked Giles a little surprised.
"Might be a date," said Willow with a weak smile.
"For God's sake!" growled Giles, "How can anyone think about their social life? We are about to fight the original primal evil. These girls are in mortal danger. Didn't you see the flashcards? This isn't right."
Lorelai mounted the stairs looking down the hallway towards the bathroom she saw Rona, Vi and Molly outside knocking quite insistently, "Why don't you three go and wait in your room or something, while I talk to her," she said walking up to them.
"Please hurry I need to pee," said Vi.
"Well you shouldn't have drunk all that juice at dinner," said Rona as they all headed back into their room.
Lorelai knocked on the bathroom door, "Chao-Ahn, honey, open the door. I know Mr Giles frightened you, he didn't mean too," she called using her most caring tone of voice. "Come on hon. others want to use the bathroom."
After a moment, Lorelai heard the bolt pulled back and the young Chinese girl's head peaked out around the door, like all the other potentials, Chao-Ahn trusted Lorelai, even though she could not understand her. "That's it honey," Lorelai smiled reassuringly beckoning to the girl, "You wanna come out here with me?" she said gently.
Chao-Ahn nodded mutely and opened the door wide and stepped out, Lorelai put an arm around the girl and led her down the hallway, "Girls," called out Lorelai, "Bathroom's free." She smiled to herself as she started down the stairs hearing two of the doors open and screams of outrage from a couple of potentials as another beat them to the bathroom.
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Later that evening Lorelai sat at the table in the basement, next to her was Amanda, opposite sat Kennedy and Dawn and at the head of the table sat Willow with headphones on.
"Yes, it was in Buffy's underwear drawer. She has nice things," Andrew's voice came over the headphones. Willow frowned, "Well, I didn't take 'em, but there were thongs and regular underpants... ... Oh." she heard the rustling of a paper bag, "Here. Madeline shot the bringers you sent after her and Louise with it."
"And we're killing them because...?" Willow fiddled with the listening device attempting to pick-up what the First was saying. "Uh-huh, uh-huh. Um, so why not have Spike do it? He's the one with the trigger."
"OK... Say, um, do you have any weaknesses I should know about if I'm gonna work for you, like, uh, kryptonite or allergies?" Willow rolled her eyes, could Andrew be more obvious. "Oh, nothing, um..."
Willow could hear his nervousness; she just knew he was going to blow it?
"Are you—are you made out of the evil impulses of humans, so if everyone was unconscious at the same time, you would fade away?" Andrew's voice came over the headset again. "Yes, well, I, uh, because... 'cause I'm evil, and I want to do the best I can at that, so I want to..." he cleared his throat, "Know stuff like when—when do we kill Buffy."
Suddenly Willow heard Jonathan voice, "Are you wearing a wire?" she quickly took the headphones off.
"Wh—what's going on?" asked Kennedy in a worried tone of voice.
Placing a hand on the Witch's arm, "What is it Willow?" Lorelai asked when she saw the panic-stricken look on her face.
"I-I think the First knows about the wire," explained Willow, she put the headphones back on and continued to fiddle with the controls.
"No. What's happening to you?" Andrew's frightened voice came over the headset. "Stop looking like Jonathan. You're not him. You're the First, and you're trying to get me to shoot innocent girls, but I won't do it. I'm good now. When the fight is over, I'm gonna pay for killing Jonathan."
At that moment, Willow understood Andrew a little better.
"You think this was smart?" came Jonathan's voice.
Willow gasped; she picked up her pen and paper, "Wait. I'm hearing something."
"You think you can trick me, women?" said Jonathan seemingly angry.
Kennedy stood up looking around nervously, she took off Willow's headphones; "It's not in the headphones. It's out here," she said.
"You only hear what I want you to hear. You only see what I want you to see," came Jonathan's voice as the First in the guise of Jonathan appeared behind Amanda in a flash of light. His body was very decayed looking, glistening and purplish with one side of his face rotting faster where the flesh was open and the eye white. Amanda screamed and the others backed away, frightened. "So many dead girls. There'll be so many," it said before disappearing in another flash of light.
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The gang, along with Lorelai, Kennedy and Amanda, gathered in the living room for a post-First-encounter talk with Giles, Spike, and Luke, who had just returned with another potential who had made it from Calgary to Fresno before she ran out of money.
Willow who sat with Kennedy looked up, a little worried, at Giles and Spike, "So, we're thinking it didn't go too well," she said apprehensively.
Dawn stood in front of Andrew, removing the tape that held the wire to his chest, "You should've let me do this fast."
Andrew winced, "No, no, no. I hate that. Ow."
"You tried to record the ultimate evil. Why? In a complex effort to royally piss it off," said Spike angrily.
"Guess we succeeded pretty good, huh," said Kennedy smiling weakly.
"God, I never should have gone in wired," whined Andrew, "Redemption is hard."
Giles glanced at Andrew before looking down at Willow, "Getting back to Spike's question, why did you try to record it?"
"To study it. To see if we could figure something out from what it was saying. Because, guys, we have to face it, we know nothing about the First," Willow explained trying to justify their actions.
"Well, we know not to record it. That's something," pointed out Lorelai.
"Why did it appear to this one, then?" asked Spike gesturing to Andrew, "I thought it was supposed to be pulling my strings."
Andrew looked over at the Vampire, "It said it wasn't time for you yet... Ow," he cried as Dawn pulled off the last piece of tape. "I'm frightened. And my chest hurts where the tape was," he flopped down on a chair.
"It's Ok, Andrew. You did good. You stood up to it. That's really amazing," said Dawn, giving him an approving smile.
"Thank you. You're a peach," said Andrew.
"Yeah. What did it want you to do, anyway?" asked Anya curiously.
"Shoot all the girls," said Andrew.
"Shoot girls?" asked Dawn worriedly.
"Not you, just the potentials," clarified Andrew.
Dawn sighed in relief, "Oh, well that's something, anyway," she saw the looks the three potentials were giving her; she looked around concern again in her voice, "Something tragic."
"Nice recovery," said Lorelai her eyes twinkling.
"Thanks," smirked Dawn.
"This proves my point. This time is crucial. We should be circling the wagons instead of doing things like going out on dates when—when gunplay is imminent," said Giles, he looked at Willow, "Call Buffy. Get her back here. We need to dispose of the gun and-and figure out our next move."
"I'll go get her," offered Spike.
Willow shook her head, "I'll call," she said just as her cell phone went off.
Amanda looked at Lorelai, "Bet that's her. Sometimes you're thinking about calling someone..."
Willow looked at her phone, "No, it's a text message... Oh, it's from Xander. It's one of our signals."
"Signals?" frowned Amanda.
"Yeah, the system we set up a while back. Like codes. Uh, this one's either, 'I just got lucky, don't call me for a while,' or, 'My date's a demon who's trying to kill me,'" said Willow.
"You don't remember which?" asked Kennedy.
Willow shook her head, "It was a long time ago."
"Well, if we play the percentages..." pointed out Dawn.
"Something's eating Xander's head," Giles sighed.
"Say, that's gratifying," said Anya a little annoyed as she picked up the double entendre.
"Buffy will know what to do," said Andrew.
"I'll go get her," said Spike heading for the door.
"That's ok," said Willow pressing speed dial on her phone, "We don't even know where she went." They heard a cell phone ringing.
Lorelai spotted it on the side; she picked it up and showed it to the redhead, the display read, 'Willow Calling.' "That's not good," said Willow.
Spike headed to the door for a third time, "I'll go get Buffy. I can probably still track her scent. She'll be worried about the boy," he said.
Lorelai looked at her fellow potentials, "That sounds so disturbing on so many levels," she said, Amanda and Kennedy nodded mutely.
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Lorelai stood with her arm around Dawn's shoulders as they stared out the front door. Anya paced back and forth across the living room, while Luke, Willow and Andrew sat on the couch.
"Where are they? It's after two. I can't believe Buffy hasn't brought him home yet. His slut ate him up," ranted Anya.
"His slut didn't eat him up," said Willow, "And besides, I thought you were all angry at him."
"My feelings are changeable but intense," said Anya.
"I understand your fear, Anya. I know fear myself 'cause, you know, I, um, I enraged that primal force," said Andrew softly.
Giles walked in at that moment carrying a glass of milk, "They're not back yet?"
Anya glanced at Giles, "I'm worried. I-I think we should go find them. Xander could be injured or trapped or eaten up."
Giles looked at his watch, "It is late. Perhaps a little reconnaissance might be helpful."
"Some of the girls were still awake just now when I checked on them," said Lorelai coming into the living room.
Chao-Ahn came down the stairs just then, a worried look on her face, she said something in her own language.
Giles looked around at the others as he translated, "She says she can't sleep." He turned back to Chao-Ahn, "Um, I made myself some warm milk. You can have it."
Chao-Ahn started saying something, she seemed very angry. Without taking the milk she turned and hurried back upstairs."
"She's shy," said Giles.
"Maybe! But were you aware that many Asians are lactose intolerant?" said Lorelai watching the girl run up the stairs.
Giles took off his glasses rubbing the vigorously, "Really. Are you sure?"
Lorelai nodded, "Yeah, I had a Chinese pen-pal from Hong Kong when I was younger, she told me," she explained.
"They're back! Oh, here they come," said Dawn from the hallway with more than a little relief.
Anya hurried to front door, "Xander all right?"
Dawn nodded, "Looks Ok."
"Damn him," cursed Anya.
Buffy led Xander into the house. He had his shirt wrapped around his waist as a surrogate bandage. Spike followed them in.
"What happened?" asked Willow.
"What do you think happened?" asked Xander exasperated, "Another demon woman was attracted to me." Anya rolled her eyes, "I'm going gay. I've decided I'm turning gay. Willow, gay me up. Come on, let's gay."
"What?" said Willow a little embarrassed, as Lorelai began laughing.
"You heard me. Just tell me what to do. I'm mentally undressing Scott Bakula right now. That's a start, isn't it?" said Xander.
"Captain Archer..." said Andrew as his eyes diluted.
"Come on; let's get this gay show on the gay road. Help me out here," said Xander.
Buffy was trying hard not to laugh along with Lorelai; "What if you just start attracting male demons?" she said lightly.
Dawn giggled, "Clem always liked you," she pointed out.
"It would serve you right," pouted Anya.
"Children, enough," said Giles.
"I'd need some stylish new clothes," said Xander.
"Enough! Have you learned nothing from tonight's assorted chaos? There isn't time for fun and games and quips about orientation," said Giles sternly holding up the flashcards, "These—these aren't a joke," he flipped through the cards showing them, "This—this happens. Girls are going to die. We may die. It's time to get serious," he said before walking out of the room.
Lorelai's eyes flashed, she made her way past the now sombre room and caught Giles just as he was about to step out the backdoor, "Let's talk, shall we," she said with more than a little anger.
"About what?" Giles asked looking at the angry woman stood next to him on the back porch.
"About what? Let's start with your highbrow attitude shall we. Those kids in there, and yes I know they are mostly over eighteen so are technically adults, have been through hell over the last six years. Done things no one should have too. They are all aware of the dangers we are facing, Buffy even more so. And here you are trying to stop them have a little normality," Lorelai smirked for a moment, "Okay Xander almost being killed was bad. But all of them need to do things that everyone else does, date, hang out, do foolish things... even though deep down they know it isn't for them. They need it to remind them what they are fighting for and to keep what sanity they have.
"Willow and Xander told me that after they found out the truth about this town, you didn't want them to get involved, yet they did, because that is the type of people they are, caring, helpful. You seem to have completely reversed your attitude. You place more and more on their shoulders and still they carry on caring and helping when it would be so much easier for them to just give up.
"I've only been here for what... God is it only ten days?" Lorelai laughed at which Giles smiled slightly. "Look what I'm trying to say is, they know how dangerous our situation is, but will be there when it's needed, you just need to realise they need the time between the dangers in this town to have some fun. Just remember they love and respect you, if you told them the only way to beat the First was to throw themselves into the Hellmouth, they wouldn't hesitate, they love you... let them have the fun," she turned and re-entered the house, leaving the Watcher to his thoughts.
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"This is all your fault," groaned Rory to her mother as she stood between Lorelai and Louise doing their warm up exercises.
"Me! What did I do?" asked Lorelai.
"You had me before you were eighteen," pointed out Rory as she stood in the rest position concentrating on her breathing.
"Sorry baby girl, I'll know better next time," smiled Lorelai looking at her daughter. "Hey you know being potentials must be why we're able to eat so much and not put on any weig..."
"Potential," shouted Kennedy who was taking the lesson that morning. She, Madeline and Louise being the only ones to have received formal training took it in turns when Buffy was not available.
Lorelai jumped having missed Kennedy's approach; she placed her hand to her chest, "God way to give me a heart attack," Lorelai said.
"Drop and give my twenty," ordered Kennedy.
"Twenty what?" asked Lorelai putting a confused look on her face.
"Do you wanna go for forty?" asked Kennedy.
Lorelai stood in a credible attention stance, "Ma'am, no ma'am," she said with a twinkle in her eye and started her push-ups.
Several of the other potentials, including Rory could not help letting out a giggle, Kennedy turned pointing at them, "Give me ten," she ordered, with groans they complied.
Buffy led Principal Wood out onto the back porch, "You'll have to forgive Andrew. Or not. Your call. We do have a lot more working for us than just the, uh, big board," she said.
"So, I see," said Wood as he watched the potentials training, "Who's that at the end," he asked seeing Lorelai.
"That's Lorelai," smiled Buffy, "For some reason she didn't lose her potential when she turned eighteen, we're not sure why but it could have something to do with having her daughter, the girl next to her, when she was only sixteen," she explained.
With her hands on her hips, Kennedy ordered the potentials to do a Punch block combo. "Cross block kick," she said after they had completed it.
With a 'Huh!' the potentials did the cross block kick.
"Chamber your energy. Punch block combo," repeated Kennedy, everyone except Chloe did the moves correctly, Kennedy walked up to her, "Hold it. What the hell do you call that, potential? Try that in the field, you are dead. Drop, and give me twenty."
Chloe groaned but complied dropping to the ground and beginning the push-ups.
Kennedy turned and headed over to Buffy and Wood, still scowling, then it was suddenly replaced with a little giddy smile, "I love this job! Did you see that? I ordered her to do push-ups."
"Yes, I saw that," smiled Buffy.
Kennedy looked at Wood, "Hi. Who the hell are you?" she asked.
"An ally," explained Buffy.
"So, what do you think? Our girls ready to kick some ass, or what?" asked Kennedy.
"Looking strong," nodded Wood.
"But...?" said Kennedy.
Principle Wood smiled a little, "Well, I'm just not sure the First has an ass that you can actually, you know, kick."
Kennedy smirked, "Guess we'll see."
"Principal Wood, hi! It's so weird seeing you outside of school," said Amanda waving.
Kennedy whirled around looking angrily at Amanda, "What are you waving at potential? Attention!"
With another 'Huh!' all the potentials took up the correct stance.
Kennedy gave Buffy a little smirk, "I love this job," she whispered before turning back to the potentials, "Rising sun. Begin." She ordered as she walked back to stand in front of the others.
"You're right, it's not enough," said Buffy looking at Wood.
"That's not what I said Buffy. It's an impressive group of recruits," pointed out Wood.
"They're not recruits. Recruits are... recruited. These girls were chosen," said Buffy a little sadly.
"You're doing the best you can with what you've got," Wood said.
"They're not all gonna make it. Some will die, and nothing I can do will stop that," said Buffy sadly.
At that moment, Willow walked out the backdoor onto the porch, her arms full of weapons. She froze when she saw Principal Wood. "Oh, hi. Hey. Well, Buffy, I—I see that our preparation for the school-pep-dance-cheer-drill contest are coming along," she said before looking at the potentials and raising her voice, "Bring it on!"
Buffy smiled, "It's OK, I filled him in on everything."
Willow let out a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank the Goddess. If I had to explain all these weapons, I had nothing," she said putting down the weapons.
"Buffy tells me you have been, um...oh, how shall I put it...experimenting," said Wood. Willow's eyes went wide; she cast a worried glance at Buffy. "With the magicks," he clarified.
Willow laughed nervously, "Oh! Yeah. Oh, nothing too heavy, though. Just the lighter, safer stuff. Uh, if Kennedy asks, her pointy stuff's right there. See you inside," she said. "So much cooler than Snyder," she said to Buffy before heading back into the house.
Wood waited until Willow had vanished, "She really almost destroyed the world?" he asked.
Buffy nodded, "Yep."
"Remind me not to make her crabby," said Wood.
"It might be better if you did," said Buffy with a sigh.
"How's that work?" asked Wood confused.
"Oh, I don't know. It's just...the First is coming, and then look at us; the army. We've got a bunch of fighters with nothing to hit, a Wicca who won't and the brains of our operation wears oven mitts," pointed out Buffy.
"Hmm. Well, you're redefining the job, Buffy, and that takes guts. This isn't your full arsenal anyway. Show me the Vampire," said Wood.
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Later that day Buffy was helping Lorelai, Rory and Dawn set up the sleeping bags and pillows in Dawn's room.
"So, I took a look inside that emergency bag of Principal Wood's," said Dawn.
"And?" asked Buffy.
"Smelled weird," said Dawn wrinkling her nose, "Kinda like Grandma's closet, but worse."
"I didn't know that was possible. Anything we could use?" asked Buffy.
"Trinkets, weapons, one very large textbook," said Dawn picking up a book from the side, she flipped through it, "Translation's gonna be a bitch, but... Do you know that ancient Sumerians do not speak English?"
"I'd like to help with the translation," said Rory.
"They're worse than the French," said Buffy with a smirk, she looked over at Rory, "If you feel up to it, you can help. Anything else?" she said looking back at Dawn.
"Uh, yeah. A box. A big, fat, unopenable box. I'm betting whatever the big deal about this emergency bag is, you'll find it in the box," said Dawn putting the book down.
"Good. Keep on it," said Buffy as they headed for the door to prepare the other rooms for another slumber party night. "Don't you have any real homework?"
"Oh, you mean, like, schoolwork?" said Dawn just behind Buffy.
"Yes."
"Well, I've got a system. It's called flunking out," giggled Dawn, "No, just kidding. I'm paying Rory to do my work," she squealed as Rory laughed, "I'm kidding. I love to see your eyeballs change colour when you think I'm gonna flunk out of..." Dawn gasped in shock as she, Rory and Lorelai followed Buffy into another bedroom to see Chloe hanging from the ceiling by a bed sheet.
Rory turned pale and looked away into her mother's arms, Lorelai's, her face grim, held her daughter, instinctively rubbing her back.
Kennedy, Rona, and Amanda came out of the bedroom across the hall having heard the commotion. "What happened? We heard..." Kennedy began to ask then let out a gasp of her own and covered her mouth.
"Dawn, get a knife. We're cutting her down," said Buffy as calmly as she could.
"Good thinking. But, on the other hand, why rush? Up or down, I'll still be dead," said the First as it appeared next to the body, looking for all the world like Chloe.
"You're not Chloe," said Buffy angrily.
"Yeah, well, neither is she, anymore. Now, she's just Chloe's body," said Chloe/First
"What did you do to her?" asked Kennedy.
"Nothing! We just talked all night. Well, I did most of the talking, but Chloe is...I'm sorry, was a good listener. 'Til she hanged herself," said Chloe/First
"Don't listen to it, any of you. It's the First," said Buffy.
"Oh, let 'em. The only reason why Chloe offed herself is 'cause she knew what you're not getting. I'm coming, you're going. All this... it's almost over," said Chloe/First.
"We'll be here," said Lorelai between clenched teeth, Buffy turned and smiled a thank you to the woman.
"All of you? But wait. I thought..." began Chloe/First before changing her voice to sound like Buffy's, "They're not all gonna make it. Some will die, and there's nothing I can do that will stop it." Then in Chloe's voice again, "Hey, I didn't say it. But I'll be seeing all of you. One by one. TTFN," it disappeared in a flash of light.
"What's TTFN?" asked Buffy quietly.
"It's 'ta ta for now.' It's what Tigger says when he leaves," explained Rona.
"Chloe loved Winnie the Pooh," said Amanda sadly.
"Dawn, where's that knife?" said Buffy sternly.
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In a sheltered spot behind some bushes just inside one of the cemetery gates, Buffy and Luke started digging a shallow grave, nearby stood Lorelai with her arm around Rory as they waited by Chloe's body, no one saying anything.
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An hour or so later the four re-entered the house, to see everyone crowded into the living room for the meeting Buffy had called. The mood was sombre as everyone sat in silence, except for the soft sobbing sounds as some of the potentials mourned Chloe's death.
Rory went and sat next to Madeline and they hugged; Lorelai sat next to Vi and pulled the tearful girl into her arms.
"I'll take the spades, Buffy," said Luke solemnly.
Buffy nodded and handed over hers, "Thanks." She looked around the room, "Is everyone here?"
Kennedy sighed, "All accounted for."
"Anyone want to say a few words about Chloe?" asked Buffy, everyone remained silent, "Let me," she said beginning to pace, "Chloe was an idiot. Chloe was stupid. She was weak. And anyone in a rush to be the next dead body we bury, it's easy. Just...think of Chloe, and do what she did. And we'll find room for you next to her and Annabelle. I'm the Slayer. The one with the power. And the First has me using that power to dig our graves," her anger rising, "I've been carrying you, all of you, too far, too long. Ride's over."
"You're out of line," said Kennedy standing up from her place next to Willow.
"No, she's not," said Willow firmly.
Kennedy turned to Willow, "You're gonna let her talk to you like that Willow? She's not even the most powerful one in this room. With you here, she's not close."
"Kennedy," said Lorelai firmly, "Sit down and listen."
To everyone's surprise, Kennedy sat down again, but looked daggers at the Slayer.
"You're new here, and you're wrong. Because I use the power that I have. The rest of you are just waiting for me," said Buffy.
"Well, yeah, but only because you kinda told us to. You're our leader, Buffy, as in 'follow the.'" pointed out Xander.
"Well, from now on, I'm your leader as in 'Do what I say,'" said Buffy.
"Ja wohl! But let's not try to forget, we're also your friends," said Xander.
"I'm not," put in Anya.
Buffy turned on her, "Then why are you here? Aside from getting rescued, what is it that you do?"
"I provide much-needed... sarcasm," countered Anya.
Xander raised his hand, "Um that would kinda be my job, actually."
"You're here because you're scared," said Buffy firmly.
"Same goes for everyone in this room," pointed out Lorelai.
"Fine. Anya, all of you, be as scared as you'd like, just be useful while you're at it," said Buffy.
"Come on, Buffy. You know everyone here's doing everything they can," put in Willow.
"The First isn't impressed," said Buffy looking back at the redhead, "It already knows us. It knows what we can do, and it's laughing. You want to surprise the enemy. Surprise yourselves. Force yourself to do what can't be done, or else we are not an army, we're just a bunch of girls waiting to be picked off and buried." She caught Spike moving toward the door, "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Out. Since I'm neither a girl, nor waiting. All this speechifying doesn't really apply to me does it?" said Spike heading towards the front door.
"Fine. Take a cell phone. That way, if I need someone to get weepy or whaled on, I can call you," called out Buffy.
Spike turned on the Slayer, "If you've got something to say..."
"Just said it," said Buffy, "You keep holding back, you might as well walk out that door."
"Holding back?" said Spike angrily, "You're blind. I've been here, right in it, fighting, scrapping..."
"Since you got your soul back?" asked Buffy.
"Well, as a matter of fact, I haven't quite been relishing the kill the way I used to," explained Spike quietly.
"You were a better fighter then," pointed out Buffy.
Spike looked like she had slapped him, "I did this for you. The soul, the changes, it's what you wanted."
"What I want is the Spike that's dangerous. The Spike that tried to kill me when we met," said Buffy.
Spike took a step towards the Slayer, "Oh, you don't know how close you are to bringing him out."
"I'm nowhere near him. All the potentials upstairs, and Dawn break out that emergency kit," said Buffy looking around the room.
"What are you gonna do?" asked Dawn.
"I'm declaring an emergency," she said walking past Spike without acknowledging him.
--------------
"We thought you'd want to be here," said Buffy as Principal Wood entered the living room.
"Yeah, you thought right," said Wood.
Willow was going through the bag with Kennedy, Dawn, Anya, and Xander, as Spike leaned against the wall. "This emergency bag's got some neat stuff in it. Weapons, charms, and advanced reading assignments," she said holding up the book.
Buffy looked to the door as Lorelai and Luke entered, "Why aren't you with the others?" she asked.
"Hey, in case you hadn't noticed I'm not a teenager Buffy," said Lorelai a little angrily before smirking at Luke, "Besides my Watcher said I could come, so there."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Okay, stay, but keep out of the way."
"What's inside the box?" asked Anya pointing at the wooden box in the bottom of the bag.
"Mm, I don't know. It hasn't been opened since..." Buffy broke off the lock with her bare hand, "Well, since now," said Wood.
Xander pulled out metal figures from the box, "Puppets. That's it! The First hates puppets! Now if we can just airlift Kermit, Fozzie the Bear, and Miss Piggy into town, the First'll be a-running."
Willow rolled her eyes, "Those are Muppets," she pointed out.
Dawn took the figure from Xander, "And these things are shadow-casters. You put them in motion, and they tell you a story," she explained looking at the book, "It says you can't just watch, you have to see."
"What the hell does that mean?" asked Lorelai.
"It's cryptic. I don't like it. Every time instructions get cryptic, someone gets hurt, usually me," said Xander.
"You can't just watch, you have to see?" mused Buffy, she looked at Principal Wood, "See what?"
"That's where all my fancy translating skills break down, but I think it's an origin myth. The story of the very first Slayer," explained Dawn.
"I-I saw her," exclaimed Buffy.
"You saw the First Slayer?" asked Wood.
Buffy nodded, "The other night...in my dream. It's gotta mean something, right?"
--------------
They had moved all the furniture to the sides of the room and placed the box on a small table in the middle. Xander lit the wick at the centre of the mechanical object. The light filled the room.
Dawn held the large book open in her arms, "Ok, according to this, I think...you put on those puppet guys on one by one. They cast shadows and the shadows tell the story. First, there is the Earth."
Xander found the correct metal figure and placed it on the mechanical object. The light at the centre cast a shadow of the figure on the wall. They began hearing a tribal drumbeat in the background.
"What's that sound?" asked Kennedy nervously.
"Ok, so far, so creepy," quipped Xander.
"Hmm. Ok," said Dawn beginning to narrate the story, Xander putting the corresponding shadow caster figure on the device as she continued. "Then, there came the demons," Xander added the figure of a demon, a growling sound came from somewhere, "After demons, there came men," they heard chanting sounds, "Men found a girl," a girl screamed, "And the men took the girl to fight the demon, all demons. They—they chained her to the Earth." Xander placed the last shadow caster representing a chain on the device, "And then—and I—I can't read this. Something about darkness," finished Dawn.
The shadow-casting device started spinning on its own. "What about darkness?" asked Buffy.
The shadow figures cast on the walls began to animate, moving, acting out the story.
"It says you cannot be shown. You cannot just watch, but you must see. See for yourself, but only if you're willing to make the exchange," explained Dawn becoming a little agitated.
"When did you get so good at Sumerian?" asked Xander.
Dawn had a worried look on her face as she showed them the pages of English in the book, "It's not in Sumerian anymore."
Willow and Kennedy stood, alarmed, as the shadow casters showed the story of a demon attacking the chained girl, the device spun faster and faster as the shadows move up the walls. Suddenly, a bright blue light formed at the centre of the device, growing in size until it formed a window of light.
Buffy walked closer to investigate it.
"But what does it mean?" asked Xander.
"It means I have to go in there," declared Buffy.
"No, it doesn't! Where does it say that? It doesn't say that!" said Willow beginning to panic.
"Buffy, you don't even know what you're exchanging. You don't know if you're ready yet," pointed out Wood.
"That's the point," said Buffy cryptically.
"No. Buffy, we don't know where you're going or how we'll get you back," said Willow.
"Buffy, you can't," said Xander.
"How will we get you back?" asked Willow her panic rising.
"Find a way," said Buffy before jumping through the window of light; the portal closing behind her.
"She's gone," cried Willow.
"What was that about an exchange?" asked Lorelai.
There was a sudden flash of light, and a large, growling demon appeared.
"Ah, this must be the exchange student," quipped Xander. The demon grabbed him by the shirt collar and threw him across the room, breaking furniture as he landed.
The others stood there in shock as the growling demon now turned its attention to them.
"Willow. Use your magick. Send him back," said Kennedy.
"Um, trying. Redi..." began Willow. The demon backhanded the redhead, sending her across the room and into the wall. Wood pulled out throwing stars and hurled them at the demon before engaging the demon in hand-to-hand combat but the demon pushed him to the ground.
While Wood attacked, Luke had moved to the weapons in the corner, "Here," he called out throwing Kennedy and Lorelai swords and picking up an axe himself.
All three moved towards the demon as Dawn grabbed a sword herself and followed them. Kennedy made a swipe at its midsection but the demon grabbed the sword in his hands using it to block Lorelai's attack and threw them both back hard causing Luke's attack to go astray, the demon threw him into Xander who had begun to rise.
Dawn tried to stab it but the demon dodged to the side and backhanded her towards Kennedy and Lorelai who lay a little stunned on the couch, Lorelai instinctively caught the teenager in her arms.
Meanwhile Spike had manoeuvred behind the large demon and jumped on its back, "Get out of here, all of you. Unless you want to end up all dead and useless," he said as he struggled with it.
"What are you gonna do?" asked Kennedy wiping the blood from the wound on the back of her hand she had received when Dawn had been thrown into her and Lorelai.
"What I do best," said Spike as he slammed the demon's head into the wall, but it turned the tables on him, throwing him so hard into the ceiling that he went straight through it and landed on the floor upstairs.
They heard a couple of potentials scream in surprise as Rory and some of the others ran out their rooms and headed towards the stairs.
Meanwhile the demon broke through the French doors, scattering broken glass around as he left the house.
Willow sat up from where she had fallen. Luke helped Xander up as Principal Wood did the same for Anya who had hit the wall when Lorelai and Kennedy caught her a glancing blow.
Dawn looked to Lorelai giving her a grateful smile as she sat up from across her and Kennedy, "Are you alright?" she asked seeing the cut on Kennedy's hand.
"Just hurt," said Kennedy wily, "Don't make a case out of it. How 'bout you?" she said looking at Willow, Xander and Luke.
"I think we'll live," said Xander. He looked at the hole in the ceiling, "Man that's going to take some repairing," he said looking at Luke.
Rory looked around wildly as she lead Rona and the other potentials into the living room, immediately going to her mother, "Mum are you alright? What happened?" she asked beginning to check her mother over.
"I'm fine hon. just a little bruised. Is Spike okay?" said Lorelai hugging Rory a little tightly. She looked at the others, "Is getting thrown through the ceiling what he does best?"
Luke sighed, "I'll go check on him," he said heading for the door.
"We've got bigger problems than that," pointed out Anya.
"Yeah, demon loose; no Slayer," said Wood.
"We need Buffy," said Willow.
"Right Willow," said Lorelai taking charge, "Can you do a spell to get her back?"
"Which spell? I mean, didn't you see that thing? And you expect to reopen the portal without sending Willow off the deep end," said Anya.
Willow frowned at the ex-vengeance demon, "Thanks for your support."
"Well, it's true. We're going to have to find another way," said Anya.
Willow shook her head, "There isn't, and Buffy knew it. I've got to get her back."
"We don't even know where she went," pointed out Kennedy.
"Dawnie, what's the book say?" asked Xander.
"Not much. Once Buffy left, it got a little tougher to read," Dawn said holding up the book to show them the blank pages.
"Oh," said Willow dejectedly walking out of the room to the kitchen, the others followed.
"It's Ok. We'll just start with what we know, and take it from there," said Kennedy trying to be supportive.
"Great, so far we know Jack about squat. Let's go from there," said Xander.
"You've got the magick, use it," said Kennedy.
"I-I-I don't even know what magick to use," pointed out Willow.
"Why not just try all 32 flavours. Worst thing that happens is you go brunette," smiled Kennedy.
Willow pulled the first-aid kit from kitchen cabinet, "That's not the worst thing that can happen," she said beginning to clean Kennedy's wound on her hand.
"She's right. And you know we have a choice. We can risk Willow's life and the rest of our lives to get Buffy back, or we leave her out there," said Anya.
"If we play it safe back here, Buffy could stay lost," pointed out Wood.
"You missed her 'everyone sucks but me' speech. If she's so superior, let her find her own way back," said Anya.
"That isn't what she said or meant and you know it Anya," said Lorelai.
"Anya, the First is already up and running. Every second that Buffy's not here, is an opportunity for it to show up and rip us to pieces," said Xander.
"Willow, how would you get Buffy back?" asked Dawn.
"That's what I'm saying, I don't even know," said Willow finishing applying the bandage to Kennedy's hand.
"Ok, but if another witch was to do it, where would they start," pushed Dawn.
"Uh, physics, principles, basic laws..." mused Willow.
"Such as?" Dawn said feeling as if she was finally getting somewhere with the redhead.
"Uh, conservation of energies. You can't really create or destroy anything, only transfer," explained Willow.
Anya snorted, "I'm sorry, are you helping?" asked Dawn looking angrily at her.
"No, but at least I'm not galloping off in the wrong direction," snapped Anya.
"Magick works off physics," pointed out Willow.
"Not without a catalyst," countered Anya, "If you're talking about transferring energies, you need some kind of conduit."
Willow nodded as she began to have some hope that she could do something, "Like a-a Kraken's tooth."
"Yeah, skin of Draconis, um, ground up Baltic stones, something..."
"Ok. Good," said Dawn interrupting the former vengeance demon.
"Plus, we need an exchange, like you said. I'm thinking a Slayer for a Demon," said Kennedy.
"Right. If we want Buffy back, then we have to find that demon and send it through," said Lorelai, she turned to Rory stood in the doorway, "Go and get Madeline and Louise, were going hunting." Her daughter nodded and left quickly.
"It matter if it's dead or alive?" asked Kennedy.
"I vote dead," said Spike replacing Rory in the doorway, he looked over to Willow, "The Slayer's counting on you, Willow. Get cracking on that portal, and don't be stingy with the mojo. The demon's mine."
"It's ours as well," said Lorelai following him when she saw Madeline and Louise enter the living room with Rory.
"No," said Luke and Spike together.
"And when was the last time I listened to you Luke?" asked Lorelai looking at her Watcher before turning on the Vampire, "And you. All you succeeded in doing today was use your body as a wrecking ball. We are coming," she looked at Rory, Madeline and Louise, "Let's gear-up," she said heading for the weapons.
Luke sighed, "You have to be the most stubborn woman I have ever met," he growled as he joined them next to the weapons chest and grabbed an axe.
"Maybe that's what we need more of around here, stubborn women that won't just stand around waiting for the First to pick us off one by one," said Lorelai handing swords to the other three potentials then grabbing one herself.
Spike smirked as he saw the steely look she gave her Watcher, "I need to get something before we go after it," he said leading the Watcher and four potentials out the door and into the night.
"Where are you going?" asked Wood who stood by the front door.
"Sunnydale High, I'll catch you up," said Spike looking at Luke who just nodded.
"Come on," said Luke still annoyed as he climbed into his truck, "Rory, Madeline, Louise in the back," he ordered.
Rory exchanged looks with the others as she climbed in the back.
Luke looked at Lorelai as she got in beside her, "So where too?"
Lorelai turned to him, an annoyed look on her own face, "How the hell should I know? Just head towards the high school, if we haven't found it by then we can get Spike to find it."
Growling under his breath, he pulled away, moving slowly down the street as they looked around in search of the demon.
They had no luck spotting the demon by the time they had reached the school. Spike climbed in next to Lorelai, "Cool coat, where did you get it? I want one," she said.
"New York. It's sort of one of a kind," said Spike. "Turn left," he told Luke. After ordering several more turns, they came to the Bronze, which had been closed for a couple of weeks to repair damage done after the latest gang attack! Spike sniffed the air, "It's close, stop the truck," he jumped out and head down the side of the building, "Get round the other side just in case," he called out.
Luke quickly drove around the other side and climbed out with the others. "Let's try and not get killed, okay?" he said leading them into the dark alley.
"Madeline, Louise," said Lorelai quietly, "You two come in from the left, Rory and I will take the right."
"Okay, be careful," said Louise as she and Madeline moved off to follow the left hand wall down the alley.
As they neared the back entrance to the Bronze, they could see Spike exchanging blows with the demon. "Oh, come on now, Nancy. Call yourself a demon. I thought you were up for a proper fight," they heard Spike taunting voice; the demon punched Spike hard sending him across the alley.
Madeline and Louise were on it before the demon could follow up on its attack; Madeline got a glancing slash across its upper arm, its thick hide preventing worse, as she ducked its swipe at her head, Louise tried taking its legs from under it, but its greater mass worked against her, leaving her on the floor. This left her in a very vulnerable position; Lorelai and Rory charged in to save their friend, slashing at its upper body as Madeline instinctively grabbed Louise by the arm and pulled her out of the way.
"Now we're talking," Spike smirked standing and wiping the blood from his bleeding mouth. As the demon caught Rory's sword and swung her into the other potentials, he tackled the demon and head butted it, the demon retaliated by punching Spike repeatedly, pinning him against a wall. Spike pushed the demon away and kicked it in its mid-section sending it across the alley.
Spike laughed maniacally, "Yeah!" he shouted.
The potentials attacked en-masse swords swinging, trying to find a soft spot. The demon moved away from the wall, attempting to connect a fist with their faces, Lorelai and the others surrounded it, keeping it off balance as it went after one of them, Luke, who had joined them, and the other potentials would attack it from the side and rear.
Spike watched the demon as it fought the others. Although the individual attacks were having very little effect, but the cumulative effect did, the demon had begun to slowdown. Spike stepped in between Lorelai and Louise as it tried hitting Rory, he grabbed its head and twisted, snapping its neck.
Spike dropped the demon to the ground as the others stood around breathing hard. He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, "I don't know your feelings," he smiled at them, "But to me, a tussle like that..." he struck a match on the demon's ear, bring it up to his cigarette; "Is good for the soul."
They all laughed, even Luke, "I've heard some bad jokes in my time but that has to be one of the worse," said Lorelai wiping her sword on the demon's loincloth. Unable to resist she lifted the cloth up, "Oh my god," she exclaimed her eyes going wide.
"Wow!" said Louise looking down, "Did we have to kill him so quick."
Rory turned bright red and pulled her mother's hand away from the demon's loincloth.
--------------
Willow poured green sand from a bag, creating a circle with it. Kennedy, Dawn, Xander and Anya stood watching.
"And this is gonna help us how?" asked Kennedy.
"The sand forms a circle. The circle acts as a barrier. And the barrier contains the portal," explained Dawn.
"Now what. We hold hands and chant kumbaya or something?" asked Kennedy looking around at the others.
Willow handed the bag of sand to Kennedy, "Maybe. 'Till we get the magicks up and running, I'm kinda working on my best guess here," she said.
"Will, maybe we should wait," said a worried Xander.
"For what?" said Kennedy.
"Spike and Lorelai, to see if they can bring back that demon," said Xander.
"No, I don't think we should wait right now. Opening a portal this size could take days," explained Willow.
"Better get started," said Kennedy, smiling encouragingly at the redhead.
Willow held her hands in fists and shifted her weight from one foot to another, "I think I might pee my pants."
"You can do it, the magicks, not the pants thing," said Kennedy.
"Ok," said Willow breathing deeply, she walked into the middle of the circle and sat down cross-legged, "Via temporis, iam clamo ad te, via spatii te jubeo aperire. Aperi!" she began, nothing happened. The redhead turned to Dawn, "Dawnie, you'd better put on some coffee. This could take awhile..." A flash of light interrupted Willow, energy radiated through the room, knocking everyone down. Willow's eyes turned black, and she screamed like a banshee.
The others stood up from where they had fallen as Willow began reciting a spell again, "Via, concursus, tempus, spatium, audi me ut imperio... Screw it! Mighty forces, I suck at Latin, Ok. But that's not the issue. I'm the one in charge, and I'm telling you open up, portal, now," she commanded.
"It's not happening, Will," said Xander.
"Give her time. She's getting it," suggested Kennedy.
"Or something's getting her. Will, think you better back up a little," suggested Xander getting really worried.
"No!" said Willow angrily. She thrust her arms back behind her, sending magick toward Dawn and Kennedy, who immediately froze, enveloped in magick, as the redhead pulled power from the two and through her to create the portal.
The portal opened up in front of her in the shape of a large window of light. Noticing that Willow's hair had turned black while she channelled Dawn and Kennedy's energy, Xander calmly entered the circle, picked Willow up by her arms and half lifted, half dragged her from it. As she exited the circle, her hair returned to its normal red. Kennedy seemed upset as she realized what had happened.
It was only a half hour or so before Spike came back carrying the demon, followed by Luke and four bruised but happy potentials. Without waiting, he threw the demon's body into the portal.
With a flash of light Buffy appeared back in her living room.
--------------
Willow opened the door to Buffy's room and she and Lorelai entered. Buffy was sat on her bed, curled up, looking introspective and worried.
"All the girls are bedded down for the night, Luke and Xander put a board down as a temporary floor," said Lorelai, "They say they should be able to fix it in the morning."
Buffy nodded.
"How you doing?" asked Willow.
"Thanks for bringing me back. Again," smiled Buffy.
Willow walked over to the bed and sat down, "Well, that's what I do."
Buffy looked over at Lorelai still stood at the door, "You did alright tonight, Spike said you did okay."
"Oh full of praise," smiled Lorelai. "I just did what I thought needed to be done. We've all been hiding behind you, we need to start looking after ourselves more, we may not be as strong as you but we can still fight."
"I was hard on you guys today," said Buffy.
"We all needed a kick up the ass," Lorelai smirked.
"Aw, it's all right. You needed to be. Although, Twinkies and kisses, also peachy motivational tools. You Ok?" smiled Willow.
"I think I made a mistake," Buffy mused.
"What?" asked Willow worry coming to her voice.
"Those men that I met, you know the Shadowmen. They offered me more power, but I didn't like the loophole," said Buffy.
"So, you turned it down. It's Ok, Buffy. We'll get by. We always do," said Willow.
"I don't know. They showed me..."
"Showed you what?" asked Lorelai coming closer.
"That the First Slayer was right, it isn't enough."
"Why Buffy? What did you see? What did they show you?" pressed Willow
"An army of Turok-Han, it was underground somewhere," said Buffy quietly.
Lorelai closed the distance between herself and the young women on the bed, "Buffy, if this army was available to the First, why would it only send one?"
"I don't know!" said Buffy sitting up an intense look on her face, "Maybe they are sealed off somewhere like..."
"The Hellmouth," finished Willow.